A review of bacterial biofilm control by physical strategies

Role of advanced cleaning and sanitation techniques in biofilm prevention on dairy equipment

Biofilm formation on dairy equipment is a persistent challenge in the dairy industry, contributing to product contamination, equipment inefficiency, and economic losses. Traditional methods such as manual cleaning and basic chemical sanitation are discussed as foundational approaches, followed by an in-depth investigation of cutting-edge technologies, including clean-in-place systems, high-pressure cleaning, foam cleaning, ultrasonic and electrochemical cleaning, dry ice blasting, robotics, nanotechnology-based agents, enzymatic cleaners, and oxidizing agents. Enhanced sanitation techniques, such as dry steam, pulsed light, acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water, hydrogen peroxide vapor, microbubble technology, and biodegradable biocides, are highlighted for their potential to achieve superior sanitation while promoting sustainability. The effectiveness, feasibility, and limitations of these methods are evaluated, emphasizing their role in maintaining dairy equipment hygiene and reducing biofilm-associated risks. Additionally, challenges, such as equipment compatibility, cost, and regulatory compliance, are addressed, along with insights into future directions and innovations, including automation, smart cleaning systems, and green cleaning solutions. This review provides a comprehensive resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers aiming to tackle biofilm formation in dairy production systems and enhance food safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability.

Photothermal-Driven α-Amylase-Modified Polydopamine Pot-Like Nanomotors for Enhancing Penetration and Elimination of Drug-Resistant Biofilms

Biological enzyme-functionalized antibacterial nanoparticles, which can degrade biofilm and kill bacteria under mild reaction conditions, have attracted much attention for the elimination of deep-seated bacterial infections. However, the poor diffusion and penetration capabilities of recently developed biological enzyme-functionalized antibacterial nanoparticles in biofilm severely impair the eradication efficacy of deep-seated bacteria. Herein, a photothermal-driven nanomotor (denoted as APPNM) is developed for enhancing the elimination of drug-resistant biofilms and the eradication of deep-seated bacteria. The nanomotor contained a pot-like polydopamine (PDA) nanostructure and its outer surface is chemically immobilized with a layer of α-amylases. Under exposure to 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, the self-propelled nanomotors, integrating the α-amylases to destroy the compact structure of biofilms, can penetrate deeply into biofilms and effectively eliminate them. Subsequently, they can accumulate on the surface of bacteria using the inherent bio-adhesion property of PDA, thereby completely eradicating deep-seated bacteria by photothermal effect. These synergistic effects enable them to exhibit superior antibiofilm effects and produce remarkable therapeutic efficacy with accelerated wound healing in vivo. With excellent biocompatibility, the as-developed nanomotors have great potential to be applied for treating biofilm-related infections.

From Dormancy to Eradication: Strategies for Controlling Bacterial Persisters in Food Settings

Bacterial persistence, a dormant state that enables microorganisms to survive harsh conditions, is a significant concern in food-industry settings, where traditional antimicrobial treatments often fail to eliminate these resilient cells. This article goes beyond conventional review by compiling critical information aimed at providing practical solutions to combat bacterial persisters in food production environments. This review explores the primary mechanisms behind persister cell formation, including toxin-antitoxin systems, the alarmone guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp), stochastic processes (in which persistence occurs as a random event), and the SOS response. Given the serious implications for food safety and quality, the authors also report a range of physical, chemical, and biological methods for targeting and eradicating persister cells. The strategies discussed, whether applied individually or in combination, offer varying levels of availability and applicability within the industry and can serve as a guide for implementing microbial contamination control plans. While significant progress has been achieved, further research is crucial to fully understand the complex mechanisms underlying bacterial persistence in food and to develop effective and targeted strategies for its eradication in food-industry settings. Overall, the translation of these insights into practical applications aims to support the food industry in overcoming this persistent challenge, ensuring safer, more sustainable food production.

Eradication of single- and mixed-species biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus by pulsed streamer corona discharge cold atmospheric plasma

Cold atmospheric plasma has recently gained much attention due to its antimicrobial effects. Among others, plasma has proven its potential to combat microbial biofilms. Yet, knowledge of complex network interactions between individual microbial species in natural infection environments of the biofilm as well as plasma-biofilm inactivation pathways is limited. This study reports the effects of a cold plasma generated by a pulsed streamer corona discharge in air on single- and mixed-species biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. The plasma causes significant biofilm biomass reduction, bacteria inactivation, and alteration in intracellular metabolism. For single-species biofilms S. aureus is found more tolerant to plasma than P. aeruginosa, and mixed-species biofilms display higher tolerance of both bacteria to plasma than in single-species biofilms. A comparison between wet and dehydrated biofilms reveals reduced plasma efficacy in wet environments. Consequently, biofilm dehydration prior to the plasma treatment facilitates penetration of plasma reactive species leading to higher bacteria inactivation. The evaluation of plasma-generated gaseous reactive species reveals O3 and NO2 being dominant species contributing to the etching mechanism of the overall plasma anti-biofilm effect. Despite the strong anti-biofilm effect is obtained, the biofilm regrowth on the next day after plasma treatment implies on the inability of pulsed streamer corona discharge to permanently eradicate biofilms on a surface. The search for adequate plasma treatment conditions of biofilms remains crucial to avoid the appearance of more adaptive biofilms.

Improve anti-biofilm efficacy of ultrasound by modulating the phase transition of exopolysaccharides

This study focused on the adverse sonochemical effect of ultrasound on biofilm extracellular polysaccharide and the adaptive biofilm responses for ultrasound resistance. Results showed ultrasound triggered phase transition of polysaccharides within biofilm from solation to gelation, which induced following biofilm viscoelasticity enhancement, consequential failure of biofilm removal and bacteria killing. Introducing additional cationic polysaccharide, 1.25 % chitosan, inhibited the ultrasound responsive polysaccharides gelation and biofilm viscoelasticity enhancement, exerted synergistic antibacterial (97.40 %) and antibiofilm (96.38 %) effects with 120 W ultrasound combined on S. aureus biofilm, prolonged the preservation time of milk 2.45 times longer compared with ultrasound alone. These findings indicated the possible mechanism and solution to improve ultrasound efficacy on biofilm control and bacteria suppression, exhibit the promising prospect of ultrasound combined strategy in hygiene issues of food and medical industry.

Biofilm battleground: Unveiling the hidden challenges, current approaches and future perspectives in combating biofilm associated bacterial infections

A biofilm is a complex aggregation of microorganisms, either of the same or different species, that adhere to a surface and are encased in an extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix. Quorum sensing (QS) and biofilm formation are closely linked, as QS genes regulate the development, maturation, and breakdown of biofilms. Inhibiting QS can be utilized as an effective approach to combat the impacts of biofilm infection. The impact of biofilms includes chronic infections, industrial biofouling, infrastructure corrosion, and environmental contamination as well. Therefore, a deep understanding of biofilms is crucial for enhancing public health, advancing industrial processes, safeguarding the environment, and deepening our knowledge of microbial life as well. This review aims to offer a comprehensive examination of challenges posed by bacterial biofilms, contemporary approaches and strategies for effectively eliminating biofilms, including the inhibition of quorum sensing pathways, while also focusing on emerging technologies and techniques for biofilm treatment. In addition, future research is projected to target the challenges associated with the bacterial biofilms, striving to develop new approaches and improve existing strategies for their effective control and eradication.

Therapeutic efficacy of chitosan-based hybrid nanomaterials to treat microbial biofilms and their infections - A review

Antimicrobial resistance, the biggest issue facing the global healthcare sector, quickly emerged and spread due to the frequent use of antibiotics in regular treatments. The investigation of polymer-based nanomaterials as possible antibiofilm treatment agents is prompted by the growing ineffectiveness of conventional therapeutic techniques against these resistant bacteria species. So far, several articles have been published on microbial biofilm eradication using various polymer-based nanomaterials due to their therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility nature. Despite their potential, a comprehensive review of the chitosan-based hybrid nanomaterials to treat microbial biofilms and their infections is lacking. This review provides a comprehensive investigation of the current state of therapeutic efficacy, various nanoformulations, advantages, limitations, and regulations of chitosan-based hybrid nanomaterials for biofilm treatment. Special attention is given to the application of chitosan-based nanomaterials in wound care, urinary tract infections, and dental biofilms are discussed, highlighting their role in managing biofilm-associated complications. Researchers will be better able to comprehend and develop unique, marketable chitosan-based nanomaterials with increased activity to treat biofilm infections in near future with the aid of this review.

On-going issues regarding biofilm formation in meat and meat products: challenges and future perspectives

The meat industry has been significantly threatened by the risks of foodborne microorganisms and biofilm formation on fresh meat and processed products. A microbial biofilm is a sophisticated defensive mechanism that enables bacterial cells to survive in unfavorable environmental circumstances. Generally, foodborne pathogens form biofilms in various areas of meat-processing plants, and adequate sanitization of these areas is challenging owing to the high tolerance of biofilm cells to sanitization compared with their planktonic states. Consequently, preventing biofilm initiation and maturation using effective and powerful technologies is imperative. In this review, novel and advanced technologies that prevent bacterial and biofilm development via individual and combined intervention technologies, such as ultrasound, cold plasma, enzymes, bacteriocins, essential oils, and phages, were evaluated. The evidence regarding current technologies revealed in this paper is potentially beneficial to the meat industry in preventing bacterial contamination and biofilm formation in food products and processing equipment.

Critical analysis of methods to determine growth, control and analysis of biofilms for potential non-submerged antibiofilm surfaces and coatings

The potential uses for antibiofilm surfaces reach across different sectors with significant resultant economic, societal and health impact. For those interested in using antibiofilm surfaces in the built environment, it is important that efficacy testing methods are relevant, reproducible and standardised where possible, to ensure data outputs are applicable to end-use, and comparable across the literature. Using pre-defined keywords, a review of literature reporting on antimicrobial surfaces (78 articles), within which a potential application was described as non-submerged/non-medical surface or coating with antibiofilm action, was undertaken. The most used methods utilized the growth of biofilm in submerged and static systems. Quantification varied (from most to least commonly used) across colony forming unit counts, non-microscopy fluorescence or spectroscopy, microscopy analysis, direct agar-contact, sequencing, and ELISA. Selection of growth media, microbial species, and incubation temperature also varied. In many cases, definitions of biofilm and attempts to quantify antibiofilm activity were absent or vague. Assessing a surface after biofilm recovery or assessing potential regrowth of a biofilm after initial analysis was almost entirely absent. It is clear the field would benefit from widely agreed and adopted approaches or guidance on how to select and incorporate end-use specific conditions, alongside minimum reporting guidelines may benefit the literature.

Regulating bacterial biofilms in food and biomedicine: unraveling mechanisms and Innovating strategies

Bacterial biofilm has brought a lot of intractable problems in food and biomedicine areas. Conventional biofilm control mainly focuses on inactivation and removal of biofilm. However, with robust construction and enhanced resistance, the established biofilm is extremely difficult to eradicate. According to the mechanism of biofilm development, biofilm formation can be modulated by intervening in the key factors and regulatory systems. Therefore, regulation of biofilm formation has been proposed as an alternative way for effective biofilm control. This review aims to provide insights into the regulation of biofilm formation in food and biomedicine. The underlying mechanisms for early-stage biofilm establishment are summarized based on the key factors and correlated regulatory networks. Recent developments and applications of novel regulatory strategies such as anti/pro-biofilm agents, nanomaterials, functionalized surface materials and physical strategies are also discussed. The current review indicates that these innovative methods have contributed to effective biofilm control in a smart, safe and eco-friendly way. However, standard methodology for regulating biofilm formation in practical use is still missing. As biofilm formation in real-world systems could be far more complicated, further studies and interdisciplinary collaboration are still needed for simulation and experiments in the industry and other open systems.

Overcoming antibiotic resistance: non-thermal plasma and antibiotics combination inhibits important pathogens

Antibiotic resistance (ATBR) is increasing every year as the overuse of antibiotics (ATBs) and the lack of newly emerging antimicrobial agents lead to an efficient pathogen escape from ATBs action. This trend is alarming and the World Health Organization warned in 2021 that ATBR could become the leading cause of death worldwide by 2050. The development of novel ATBs is not fast enough considering the situation, and alternative strategies are therefore urgently required. One such alternative may be the use of non-thermal plasma (NTP), a well-established antimicrobial agent actively used in a growing number of medical fields. Despite its efficiency, NTP alone is not always sufficient to completely eliminate pathogens. However, NTP combined with ATBs is more potent and evidence has been emerging over the last few years proving this is a robust and highly effective strategy to fight resistant pathogens. This minireview summarizes experimental research addressing the potential of the NTP-ATBs combination, particularly for inhibiting planktonic and biofilm growth and treating infections in mouse models caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The published studies highlight this combination as a promising solution to emerging ATBR, and further research is therefore highly desirable.

Antibacterial, antioxidant and fruit packaging ability of biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan composite film

Silver nanoparticles were prepared by loading Ag+ into biochar of waste barley distillers' grains shell by reduction with trisodium citrate, and this silver-loaded biochar was introduced into polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan. Various analysis with Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis, and water contact angle revealed that biochar-based silver nanoparticle was incorporated into the polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan film, the biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan (C-Ag-loaded PVA/CS) composite film had good thermostability and hydrophobicity. Through the analysis via disk diffusion method, the composite containing 3 % of biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan had high antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 18 mm against E. coli and 15 mm against S. aureus), and the bacterial membrane permeability was measured, indicating that C-Ag-loaded PVA/CS composite film could destroy the cell membrane, release intracellular substances, and have high antioxidant activity. During the storage, the weight loss rate of the biochar-based silver nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan plastic wrap group was 0.14 %, and the titratable acid content only decreased by 0.061 %, which had a good effect on extending the shelf life of blueberries. The C-Ag-loaded PVA/CS composite film could also delay deterioration of blueberries and prolong storage time. Overall, this composite film had potential in food packaging and extending food shelf-life aspects.

Potentiation and Mechanism of Berberine as an Antibiotic Adjuvant Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

The growing global apprehension towards multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria necessitates the development of innovative strategies to combat these infections. Berberine (BER), an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid derived from various medicinal plants, has surfaced as a promising antibiotic adjuvant due to its ability to enhance the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics against drug-resistant bacterial strains. Here, we overview the augmenting properties and mechanisms of BER as an adjunctive antibiotic against MDR bacteria. BER has been observed to exhibit synergistic effects when co-administered with a range of antibiotics, including β-lactams, quinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides and fusidic acid. The adjunctive properties of BER led to an increase in antimicrobial effectiveness for these antibiotics against the corresponding bacteria, a decrease in minimal inhibitory concentrations, and even the reversal from resistance to susceptibility sometimes. The potential mechanisms responsible for these effects included the inhibition of antibiotic efflux, the disruption of biofilm formation, the modulation of host immune responses, and the restoration of gut microbiota homeostasis. In brief, BER demonstrated significant potential as an antibiotic adjuvant against MDR bacteria and is a promising candidate for combination therapy. Further research is necessary to fully elucidate its mechanism of action and address the challenges associated with its clinical application.

Comparison of the efficacy of physical and chemical strategies for the inactivation of biofilm cells of foodborne pathogens

Biofilm formation is a strategy in which microorganisms generate a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances to increase survival under harsh conditions. The efficacy of sanitization processes is lowered when biofilms form, in particular on industrial devices. While various traditional and emerging technologies have been explored for the eradication of biofilms, cell resistance under a range of environmental conditions renders evaluation of the efficacy of control challenging. This review aimed to: (1) classify biofilm control measures into chemical, physical, and combination methods, (2) discuss mechanisms underlying inactivation by each method, and (3) summarize the reduction of biofilm cells after each treatment. The review is expected to be useful for future experimental studies and help to guide the establishment of biofilm control strategies in the food industry.

Biofilm formation in food processing plants and novel control strategies to combat resistant biofilms: the case of Salmonella spp

Salmonella is one of the pathogens that cause many foodborne outbreaks throughout the world, representing an important global public health problem. Salmonella strains with biofilm-forming abilities have been frequently isolated from different food processing plants, especially in poultry industry. Biofilm formation of Salmonella on various surfaces can increase their viability, contributing to their persistence in food processing environments and cross-contamination of food products. In recent years, increasing concerns arise about the antimicrobial resistant and disinfectant tolerant Salmonella, while adaptation of Salmonella in biofilms to disinfectants exacerbate this problem. Facing difficulties to inhibit or remove Salmonella biofilms in food industry, eco-friendly and effective strategies based on chemical, biotechnological and physical methods are in urgent need. This review discusses biofilm formation of Salmonella in food industries, with emphasis on the current available knowledge related to antimicrobial resistance, together with an overview of promising antibiofilm strategies for controlling Salmonella in food production environments.

In-situ cathodic electrolysis coupled with hydraulic backwash inhibited biofilm formation on a backwashable carbon nanotube membrane

Electro-coupled membrane filtration (ECMF) is an innovative and green technology for water and wastewater treatment. However, the dynamics of biofouling development in the ECMF system has yet been determined. This fundamental question was systematically investigated in this study through laboratory dead-end ECMF experiments. It was found that the ECMF process with an applied voltage of 3 V and a backwash interval of 60 min was capable of completely eradicating membrane biofouling in an extended filtration time of 1450 min. In contrast, membrane biofouling was much severer with a longer backwash interval of 720 min or without backwash. The complemental permeate analysis and membrane characterization results revealed that biofouling during ECMF involved two sequential stages. During the first stage, dead bacteria and their degradation debris formed a loose deposit layer on the membrane surface. The continuous accumulation of this layer decreased the electrochemical performance of the membrane cathode. As such, bacteria in the top deposit layer proliferated and secreted extracellular polymeric substances, which led to irreversible fouling in the second stage. Therefore, timely removal of the initial deposit layer by hydraulic backwash was crucial in preventing irreversible membrane biofouling. These findings provided novel insights into the synergistic effects of cathodic electrolysis and hydraulic backwash for biofouling mitigation.

Simulation-based architecture of a stable large-area [Formula: see text] atmospheric plasma source

Unified jet-DBD design, [Formula: see text], proposed in this work presents large-scale plasma in an unbounded region of atmospheric air, without any need for the flow of gas, offering efficient exposure to sizable and complex objects. This is a simulation-based architecture for stable non-thermal plasma source with notable experimental results. [Formula: see text] geometry optimizes the electric field and charge distribution for a diffuse discharge in the steady air by a key design parameter of [Formula: see text]. Teflon insulator with a thickness [Formula: see text] imposes an intense and uniform electric field shaped up at the open area in front of the device and generates radially/axially expanded plasma jet. In the [Formula: see text], phase shift increases by [Formula: see text] and the plasma generates more power than the classical plasma jet. Two distinct states of [Formula: see text] operation indicate the mode-swap at [Formula: see text] and power dissipation. In the reactive [Formula: see text] scheme even small changes in the phase angle effectively improves the electric power.

Bacterial Inactivation and Biofilm Disruption through Indigenous Prophage Activation Using Low-Intensity Cold Atmospheric Plasma

Biofilms can be pervasive and problematic in water treatment and distribution systems but are difficult to eradicate due to hindered penetration of antimicrobial chemicals. Here, we demonstrate that indigenous prophages activated by low-intensity plasma have the potential for efficient bacterial inactivation and biofilm disruption. Specifically, low-intensity plasma treatment (i.e., 35.20 W) elevated the intracellular oxidative reactive species (ROS) levels by 184%, resulting in the activation of prophage lambda (λ) within antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli K-12 (lambda+) [E. coli (λ+)]. The phage activation efficiency was 6.50-fold higher than the conventional mitomycin C induction. Following a cascading effect, the activated phages were released upon the lysis of E. coli (λ+), which propagated further and lysed phage-susceptible E. coli K-12 (lambda-) [E. coli (λ-)] within the biofilm. Bacterial intracellular ROS analysis and ROS scavenger tests revealed the importance of plasma-generated ROS (e.g., ^•OH, ¹O₂, and ^•O₂^-) and associated intracellular oxidative stress on prophage activation. In a mixed-species biofilm on a permeable membrane surface, our "inside-out" strategy could inactivate total bacteria by 49% and increase the membrane flux by 4.33-fold. Furthermore, the metagenomic analysis revealed that the decrease in bacterial abundance was closely associated with the increase in phage levels. As a proof-of-concept, this is the first demonstration of indigenous prophage activations by low-intensity plasma for antibiotic-resistant bacterial inactivation and biofilm eradication, which opens up a new avenue for managing associated microbial problems.

Bacterial biofilm infections, their resistance to antibiotics therapy and current treatment strategies

Nearly 80% of human chronic infections are caused due to bacterial biofilm formation. This is the most leading cause for failure of medical implants resulting in high morbidity and mortality. In addition, biofilms are also known to cause serious problems in food industry. Biofilm impart enhanced antibiotic resistance and become recalcitrant to host immune responses leading to persistent and recurrent infections. It makes the clinical treatment for biofilm infections very difficult. Reduced penetration of antibiotic molecules through EPS, mutation of the target site, accumulation of antibiotic degrading enzymes, enhanced expression of efflux pump genes are the probable causes for antibiotics resistance. Accordingly, strategies like administration of topical antibiotics and combined therapy of antibiotics with antimicrobial peptides are considered for alternate options to overcome the antibiotics resistance. A number of other remediation strategies for both biofilm inhibition and dispersion of established biofilm have been developed. The metallic nanoparticles and their oxides have recently gained a tremendous thrust as antibiofilm therapy for their unique features. This present comprehensive review gives the understanding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms of biofilm and provides an overview of various currently available biofilm remediation strategies, focusing primarily on the applications of metallic nanoparticles and their oxides.